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The Perfect 3 Day Dallas – Ft. Worth Itinerary

Dallas-Ft. Worth isn’t quite like any other place in the world. I feel like people can’t hear the name Dallas-Ft. Worth without thinking of the 80s television show, John F. Kennedy, and of course, cowboys. Take it from a local though, there is so much more to Dallas-Ft. Worth than this. This bustling metropolis is brimming with things to do, so filling your three days in Dallas-Ft. Worth is going to be easy.

Dallas- Ft. Worth is really all about friendly people, great food, awesome entertainment venues, and world-class museums. You could live here your whole life (like us) and still not have seen everything there is to see in Dallas-Ft. Worth. During your three days in Dallas-Ft. Worth, we are going to guide you to several of the tourist hotspots and places to visit in Dallas in this 3 day Dallas itinerary to help you get a good taste of our Texas hospitality.

Day 1 of 3 Days in Dallas-Ft. Worth

Explore Dallas

We’re going to start out your 3 days in Dallas-Ft. Worth itinerary in the big city of Dallas. Dallas is a cultural hub of the area and definitely not short on things to do. Now granted, you probably won’t have time to do all of these in one day. We wanted to give you several ideas based upon what you like to do.

Head to the Dallas Farmers’ Market

Start your day at one of the best places to visit in Dallas for foodies at the Dallas Farmers’ Market. Located in the heart of downtown Dallas, this farmers’ market has been in operations since 1941! Spend time roaming the market taking in all of the sights and sounds of the season while you sample the delicious fresh fruits and vegetables of the season.

Head inside to The Market Shops to enjoy all of the food vendors as you taste your way through some local Texas cuisine. If you’re in Dallas on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, then be sure to visit The Shed at the Dallas Farmers’ Market. The Shed offers natural meats, cheeses, local honey, and artisan breads for you to enjoy.

Visit the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza

The Sixth Floor Museum is a must see for any history lover and a great place to visit and stop at during your 3 day Dallas itinerary. Covering the life, assassination, and legacy of President John F. Kennedy, the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza is one of Texas’ most visited historic sites.

The core of the exhibit on the sixth floor is a self-guided audio tour that guides you through the exhibits showcasing the life and legacy of President Kennedy. The entire audio-guided tour takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Located just outside of the Sixth Floor Museum, you will find Dealey Plaza. Dealey Plaza is the location of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There is an “x” in the road marking the exact location of President Kennedy when he was struck by the bullet. Please don’t try to stand on the “x” to take a photo. This is a very busy road!

Relax in Klyde Warren Park

Klyde Warren Park is a unique urban park right in the heart of downtown and one of the best places to visit in Dallas. Located over the top of Woodall Rodgers Freeway, this 5.2-acre park hosts great events including yoga, Zumba, concerts, and more. You will find reading and game rooms, areas to play chess, a children’s park, croquet, ping pong, and a dog park in Klyde Warren Park. It’s a great place to just take a break during your 3 day Dallas-Ft. Worth itinerary.

Grab Lunch in Dallas’ West End Historic District

Dallas’ historic West End district encompasses several tourist attractions. The Sixth Floor Museum and the Dallas World Aquarium (both of which are on this itinerary) are located in Dallas’ West End. Take some time to walk around and explore the area if you would like before grabbing some lunch in one of the great restaurants in this area.

For some great southern cooking, head to Ellen’s Southern Kitchen. They have an all-day brunch menu that is incredible. I definitely recommend the shrimp and grits or the pancake pot pie. If you want some good Texas bar-b-que, then you’ll find that at Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse in the West End.

Head to The Dallas World Aquarium

This is one of the best places to visit in Dallas for adults and kids. And honestly, the word “aquarium” is probably not the best word to describe this Dallas attraction. I mean, don’t get me wrong, of course you will see fish, stingrays, eels, and other sea creatures, but you will truly find so much more in the Dallas World Aquarium.

You begin your journey by walking through a living rainforest where you will come in contact with a variety of animals including exotic birds, monkeys, crocodiles, and otters, just to name a few. During this time, you will often get to be up close and personal with the critters while the aquarium staff presents them to you while sharing their vast knowledge. After touring the rainforest, you will find yourself in a tunnel surrounded by sharks, rays, turtles, and fascinating fish.

Visit the Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a 66-acre botanical garden packed with beautiful lush gardens full of beds overflowing with seasonal flowers and plants. Spend some time in the Woman’s Garden where you will find yourself immersed in the tranquility of the sound of water flowing from the fountains while looking across the infinity pool. You’re sure to find a quiet spot to watch the sunset at this beautiful attraction. This is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Dallas if you love flora and fauna.

Spend Time at the Dallas Museum of Art

Located in the fabulous Dallas Arts District of downtown Dallas, the Dallas Museum of Art is a world-class museum. This museum is full of innovative exhibits from around the globe, so everyone is sure to find something that appeals to them. The best part, it is absolutely FREE! The museum’s exhibits contain over 24,000 works of art that span over 5,000 years. Honestly, the building itself is a work of art, so be sure to take it in as well as its one of the most spectacular places to visit in Dallas.

Finish Your Day with Some Dallas Nightlife

After the sun goes down on your first day of your 3 day Dallas-Ft. Worth itinerary, downtown Dallas heats up with great nighttime attractions. Check out the Don’t Tell Supper Clubfor a unique night on the town. This Dallas venue boasts everything from aerial performances to dancing and burlesque shows.

If that’s a little too much for you, then why not try one of Dallas’ swanky drink venues like the Rattlesnake Bar or the Midnight Rambler. If you’re in the food some live music then check out The House of Blues.

Day 2 of 3 Days in Dallas-Ft. Worth

Spending the Day in Arlington

On this day of our 3 day in Dallas itinerary, we are headed to the community of Arlington, Texas. Arlington is located midway between Dallas and Ft. Worth along I-30 and is home to many of the area’s big entertainment venues.

Get Your Adrenaline Pumping at Six Flags Over Texas

Adrenaline junkies will definitely want to spend some time at Six Flags Over Texas during their 3 days in Dallas-Ft. Worth. Note that in the summer months, Six Flags can be extremely hot. If choosing to visit during June-August, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and drink TONS of water!

Ok, with that being said, Six Flags is so fun! This 212-acre amusement park is home to our favorite roller coaster, The Titan! The Titan has a 255-foot drop and reaches speeds of 85 miles per hour! Now if that doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, I don’t know what will.

Of course, Six Flags is more than just awesome roller coasters. You will also find a kiddie land, water rides, delicious carnival eats, and show to keep you entertained, this is one of the best places to visit in Dallas for families!

Cool off at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

In the summer months, you might opt for Six Flags Hurricane Harbor to take a break from the heat. Hurricane Harbor is home to numerous water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a kiddie land. Save some money by bringing in your own cooler with drinks and sandwiches if you wish.

Visit AT&T Stadium-Home of the Dallas Cowboys

AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is a great way to spend the afternoon on your day 2 of your 3 day Dallas-Ft. Worth itinerary. If you are lucky enough to be visiting during football season, then definitely plan your visit during a football game.

If not, then take a tour of this fabulous stadium and get your picture taken on the field! The Cowboys’ stadium is a state of the art sporting venue like no other. The stadium tours allow you to get behind the scenes and visit the locker rooms of the football players and the cheerleaders before heading out to throw a ball around the field. Even if you aren’t a sports fan, this is a fun and unique way to spend part of your 3 days in Dallas-Ft. Worth.

Catch a Game at Globe Life Park

If the Dallas Cowboys aren’t playing, then chances are the Texas Rangers are. Catching a baseball game or taking a tour of Globe Life Park is so much fun. You can grab a hot dog and cold beer while making yourself at home in this massive stadium to root for the Rangers.

Be sure and watch the big screen if you’re with your significant other because the two of you might just get chosen to be on the Kiss Cam!!

Day 3 of 3 Days in Dallas-Ft. Worth

We have covered alot of the best places to visit in Dallas but no trip to the Dallas metroplex is complete without spending some time in Fort Worth. So on our final day to our 3 day Dallas itinerary we are headed to Fr. Worth. Home to a world-class zoo, the famous Ft. Worth Stockyards, and fabulous museums, you are sure to fall in love with Fort Worth.

The Fort Worth Zoo

Founded in 1909 with just a few animals, the Fort Worth Zoo has transformed into a world-class zoo housing over 7,000 animals today. Consistently named as a top zoo in the nation, a visit to the Ft. Worth Zoo is a must in your 3 day Dallas-Ft. Worth itinerary.

We absolutely love spend time watching the gorillas and chimpanzees in the World of Primates, a 2.5-acre exhibit that includes indoor and outdoor exhibits. Elephant lovers will find joy in watching the elephants play in the Asian Falls exhibit. Visitors get to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the rhinos in this area as well.

Of course, this is Texas, so there is an entire section dedicated to the species that are native to Texas, including burrowing owls, river otters, red wolves, coyotes, and jaguars! This section of course also includes our native reptiles like the western diamondback rattlesnake.

A not to miss exhibit at the Fort Worth Zoo is the MOLA, the Museum of Living Art. This 30,000-square-foot facility houses over 100 species including a Chinese giant salamander and a king cobra!

Fort Worth Stockyards

If you’re looking for the “cowboy culture” during your 3 days in Dallas-Ft. Worth, then you definitely want to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards. The Stockyards is full of restaurants, clubs, and shops brimming with Texas charm. Walk down the original brick walkways before exploring the true wooden corrals in the cattle pens.

Make sure that you are on Exchange Avenue at 11:30 am or 4 pm so that you can watch somemodern-day cowboys lead their herd of longhorns down the street.

When you’re ready to explore the history of this area in more detail, pop into the Livestock Exchange building. This building was once the cattle traders would come to handle their business. Today it houses offices and a museum devoted to the North Fort Worth Historical Society.

The world’s largest honky tonk, Billy Bob’s Texas is also located in this area. Billy Bob’s is a great venue to dance the night away while listening to live music. If you’re feeling up to it, you can also try your hand at the mechanical bull.

Note that at night Billy Bob’s is a concert venue, so there is an entry fee. If you want to avoid this, visit during the day when you can usually get in for free.

Sundance Square

We will wrap up our evening of our final 3 day Dallas-Ft. Worth itinerary with an evening in Sundance Square. This 35-block area located in downtown Fort Worth is full of restaurants, bars, boutique shops, art galleries, and live performance venues.

Grab a coffee and relax in Sundance Square Plaza, a gorgeous plaza area with room to sit and relax while enjoying the fountains and if you’re lucky a live band might be playing.

Choosing where to eat in Sundance Square is one of the hardest things to do, even for us and we’ve lived here our entire lives. There are just so many good places!

If you’re looking for a romantic evening, try out Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria. Specializing in farm-to-table cooking, you really can’t go wrong with anything here, but we especially love their risottos. If you’ve never tried some good old Texas Tex Mex, then you have to do that! Hit up Mi Cocina for some delicious enchiladas, queso, and flame-grilled fajitas.

After dinner, you can find plenty of evening entertainment in Sundance Square. Catch a live play at the tiny but delightful Circle Theatre or laugh until your side hurts at Four Day Weekend, a comedy improv show, or Hyena’s Comedy Club.

If jazz is more your style, then you will love the trendy Scat Jazz Lounge. No matter which of these you choose, you are going to have a great time in Fort Worth’s Sundance Square.

Extra Time on You Trip to Dallas-Ft Worth?

Where to Stay in Dallas-Ft.Worth

$ Belmont Hotel Dallas

This beautiful retro hotel dates back to 1946 with minimalist rooms featuring southwestern architecture. Some rooms offer city views and has a restaurant and bar on site that has live music. There’s also a terrace that offers views of the city and outdoor pool and hot tub.

$$ The Statler Dallas

This is a great option for where to stay during your 3 days in Dallas-Ft. Worth. This upscale hotel is situated in a landmark building dating back to 1956. You’re in close proximity to the Kennedy exhibits and museums. The rooms are vintage-chic and offer city views. There’s also restaurants and a bar on site as well as a bowling alley and a venue for live music. Don’t miss out on the rooftop pool and bar either!

$$$ The Joule

Located in the perfect spot in downtown Dallas this hotel is an experience of its own. The lavish hotel is set in a Neo-Gothic building dating back to 1927. The rooms are contemporary and beautifully designed. Upgrade for a private terrace or even your own library. There’s also a pool on site with city views, restaurants, and cocktail bars.

$$$$ The Ritz Carlton Dallas

Enjoy your 3 day Dallas itinerary in style at this luxury hotel. The location is incredible and the rooms are elegant. There’s a gorgeous pool, restaurants, spa, and free cocktail hour every night. This 5 star Ritz Carlton property is located in the upscale neighborhood of Oak Lawn. If you like traveling like royalty this is the place to do it.

About the Author

Michelle Snell is one half of the dynamic duo that make up “That Texas Couple”, a travel blog for those who aim to travel the world with their significant other. While Michelle tackles the writing, her husband Marty captures the essence of the places they visit with his striking photography.

But the pair aren’t just world travelers, they also work full-time jobs as public servants and manage the day to day life like most everyone else in the world. That Texas Couple brings practical tips and suggestions for romantic and fun travel, great relationships, and falling and staying in love. Their mission is to help you fall in love, and stay in love, with your partner, and with travel! Join them on their journey.

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